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On The Red Couch January
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Anonymous user Fri Jan 18, 2008 09:57:36 PST
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0 responses 0 comments Going Green seems to be the thing to do these days. This month our four women share their thoughts on living eco-friendly lives and how they do so.
Story by Jason Gutierrez         Photos by Summit Photography


Paula Brown
Owner, Yoga Space

Debbie Moreno
President and CEO, Greater Bakersfield Chamber of Commerce

Emily Falke
Chief Curator, Bakersfield Museum of Art

Robin Noble
Owner, Noble Bistro andThe Noble Plan


Q: What are your thoughts on eco-friendly products being more costly?

Paula Brown - I think that the price people are willing to pay is having a positive effect on business; businesses are noticing people want alternatives and offering more. We now have more choices, obviously driven by profit but eventually the market will become more competitive and the prices will come down.  I am already seeing this at the grocery store with organic foods.

Debbie Moreno - We all find money for what we think is important.

Robin Noble - I find, most often, that the higher cost equals higher quality or future cost savings (even health care costs).  I know that in my food businesses, The Noble Plan and Noble’s Bistro, with a focus on organic, whenever possible, my costs are higher and my prices can be a few cents to a few dollars more.  The farmer who chooses to not use poisoning pesticides will experience a smaller crop, he must charge more to stay in business.  There is a huge value, though, to dining on beautiful, delicious, and healthy cuisine.

Emily Falke - This is where supply and demand comes in. Where these products have been more costly over time, they are becoming less expensive as people become ecologically aware and move to use such products.



Q: How can we make environmental conservation an important topic for younger generations?


Paula Brown - We are our children’s best teachers. If environmental conservation is important to us it will become a way of life for them.

Debbie Moreno - It already is.  My son just started college and he’s as aware as I am of environmental issues and future concerns, has been since elementary school.  Kids hear it in school, they are open and receptive (sometimes more than adults).  Many businesses and utility companies sponsor projects to make the topic stimulating and interesting in and out of the classroom.

Robin Noble - I like that the entertainers that our children look up to are taking an active role in considering and protecting our environment.  Again, I believe conservation has to be a mindset.  I grew up in a family where one would never think of throwing eggshells or coffee grinds away – those went on the organic garden. Science projects could be a good place to start in raising awareness.  What if Kern schools all determined one year to focus projects on environmental impact? 

Emily Falke - Change begins with education. Education takes place in the schools and at home. A basic understanding of how the world works and what it takes to keep it thriving is at the basis of good education. The threat of global warming through human error must be addressed.  Encouraging schools to celebrate Earth Day as one of the most important celebrations of the year.  Teaching ways to live in balance in a world that has gone out of balance. 


Q: What are your thoughts on global warming?

Paula Brown - My thoughts on global warming are that there is more evidence supporting it than facts to dismiss it.  We need to take notice and do whatever we can to slow it down.

Debbie Moreno - The debate has brought important attention to issues surrounding our environment and its care. More and more people are understanding that many of our resources are finite and this has stimulated efforts by business to most effectively use those resources and to develop technologies for renewable resources.  But there’s no easy solution.  If you keep in mind that power for electricity comes 50 percent from coal and 20 percent from nuclear power and that it takes four gallons of water to produce one gallon of ethanol, you can see that it’s not an either/or situation. It’s clear we need to work together and we need to make the best use of all our resources.

Robin Noble - In the US our individual efforts against global warming are significant.  Individuals are estimated to release 10,000 pounds of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases in the atmosphere each year.  We can help by becoming more energy efficient and reducing our use of oil, gasoline, electricity, and coal. Another way that we sometimes don’t automatically think about, is using locally produced products. Making energy conservation a part of our daily awareness is essential to the goal of reducing global warming.

Emily Falke - Human activity has more than likely been the driving force in the warming trend over the past years.  Global warming is a worldwide problem and my concern is not how much humans are responsible for warming the planet, but what to do about it. It needs to be dealt with on a worldwide basis, as it is a global issue. Historically, the earth’s climate has regularly shifted back and forth between temperatures. But, with temperatures rising at unprecedented speed, the unpredictable climate allows for more intense storms and drier droughts that in turn pose unique risks to all life.


Q: What do you do at home that’s eco-friendly?

Paula Brown - I recycle paper, plastic, cardboard, and glass. All fruit vegetable and plant  scraps go into the green waste container.  I have solar panels on my home.  I drive a hybrid.  I use only natural fertilizers outside. I built my house to utilize natural light and have fluorescent light bulbs throughout.  I planted around 40 trees on my property.  I shop for organic food first and I belong to an organic fruit and vegetable co-op, which means my produce is picked here in the central valley and brought to me.  I built my house utilizing the concrete floors--the foundation is the floor.  I am in the process of eliminating junk mail.

Debbie Moreno - Wow, my first thought was “not much,” but actually we are doing a few things at our house.  We recycle cans, have just remodeled our kitchen with all new energy efficient appliances, have replaced nearly half of our lightbulbs with energy efficient bulbs and last year my husband and I both replaced our cars, going from vehicles getting 15 and 20 miles per gallon to ones getting 20 and 30 miles per gallon... not hybrids, but definitely better.  We also had PG&E come out and do an energy audit a few years ago.  I would recommend that to anyone.

Robin Noble - Though my home is more than 100 years old, it has been modified to make it more energy efficient.  The windows are dual paned, lots of added insulation, a combo evaporative cooler/AC unit, etc.  I recently disconnected the instant hot water on my sink when I discovered how much energy is used just to save me the minute or two to heat a cup of water.  I am an avid recycler. I’ve replaced my light bulbs with energy efficient compact fluorescent bulbs, when I’m shopping for new appliances, I try to buy the energy saving star-rated new ones and in the garden, I mulch!
 
Emily Falke - I conserve energy – minimal lights, heating, cooling, and water use.  As an avid cook and gardener, I focus on natural foods and personal products along with low or chemical free products. I do not use pest exterminators but I will set a natural peanut butter trap for an annoying mouse.

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